The lawsuit states that the termination was because Keefe complied with state laws requiring taxing nonprofit social clubs and for not considering abatements by clubs that had not paid their third quarter property tax bills.

“I feel confident that the lawsuit is baseless and based on the circumstances the mayor’s actions were justified," Neffinger said in response. "I also believe this will be the final outcome.”

Keefe, who is also president of the Westfield City Council, could not be reached for comment Friday.

The former West Springfield official alleges that during a Feb. 7 meeting of the Board of Assessors Neffinger inquired about the tax status of social clubs.

When Keefe told him the board could not legally consider abatements for social clubs because they had not filed the required paperwork or paid tax bills on time, the lawsuit alleges Neffinger told Keefe and Board of Assessors member Kathleen Cooley “they needed to circumvent the law or find some obscure case so that the Board of Assessors could reopen the abatement process for social clubs.”

After they declined to do that citing Massachusetts General Laws, the lawsuit states the meeting became contentious and Neffinger voiced that displeasure could be heard throughout the (municipal) building by witnesses on two different floors.

Keefe’s lawsuit states that the former principal assessor was escorted from the municipal building by police at 4:12 p.m. the following day after being informed by the human resources director that his employment had been terminated. That official presented Keefe with a letter of termination at 4:20 p.m., the lawsuit alleges.

At the same time, the city, through the mayor, issued a one-year trespass letter for Keefe, the lawsuit states.

Among the relief the lawsuit seeks for Keefe is compensatory damages for loss of income, emotional distress and front pay. Front pay is compensation for future wages if the successful litigant does not find a comparable position.

Neffinger has stated that the way such clubs are treated regarding property taxes varies from community to community. In his defense, Neffinger also argued that Keefe was less than candid in providing him information about the abatement process.

The lawsuit notes that Neffinger issued a statement last October while running for mayor to the effect that he opposed the way new property taxes were levied on social clubs. Earlier this year, the city granted abatements to several social clubs whose causes had been championed by the mayor. Keefe has argued that he had to tax social clubs in keeping with a directive from the state Department of Revenue.